Frequently Asked Questions

Whether you're a current exec or an aspiring leader in your organization, the Weekend MBA is a good fit. Our students come from many industries, job functions, backgrounds and experiences; yet they share several important traits. Our students are highly-motivated, collaborative, and hard-working with a strong drive to succeed. Applicants should be employed full-time with a minimum of four years of significant work experience and demonstrated potential for career advancement and leadership.

Applicants must have an undergraduate degree from a recognized college or university, with a recommended grade point average of 3.0 in the last two years of undergraduate study. A college algebra class and a statistics class are required, but no business courses or other prerequisites are expected. The Weekend MBA program includes participants from many different academic backgrounds who realize the need for further business knowledge.

Our online application is now available on our website. Applications are accepted and reviewed through April each year. When your application is received, you will be sent a confirmation, which will list any remaining requirements and/or questions about your application. The Weekend MBA admissions committee meets regularly and reviews applicants on a rolling basis beginning in early October. Although each year the admissions deadline is April 30; serious applicants are urged to apply as early as possible.

The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is a requirement for the Weekend MBA program, and it provides the admissions committee a quantitative standard for review of MBA candidates. Other indicators of academic success may be considered, including attainment of an advanced degree and or strong breadth/depth of managerially progressive career experience. Applicants who would like to consider this option should contact the Weekend MBA office.

The Weekend MBA program values work experience, maturity, and managerial knowledge as contributing factors to success in the program. Therefore, the admissions committee requires that applicants to the Weekend MBA have four years or more experience (excluding co-op and internship experience). Potential students with less work experience may apply, with the understanding that they may be asked to defer until a later date.

The diploma for the Weekend MBA graduates states: Master of Business Administration. The transcript will read: Master of Business Administration. It is the same title as the Full-Time MBA and Executive MBA at The Eli Broad Graduate School of Management. The major listed on the transcript will be: Integrative Management. The Weekend MBA is fully accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International.

Weekend MBA events are a great way to find out more about the program. You can experience the program first-hand and talk to students who have already found many benefits from the Weekend MBA. Most events feature a Q&A discussion with current students/alumni in an informal and highly interactive setting. Events are held around Michigan several times a year.

The Weekend MBA program brings in three cohorts each August. A cohort consists of approximately 50 students who take classes together throughout the program. Cohorts provide a significant opportunity for students to form strong professional relationships with the high-caliber classmates in the program.

Within the cohort, students are divided into teams that work together on assignments that are team-based. Approximately 30 to 40% of the coursework is team-based.

While much of the coursework is individual, the structure of the Weekend MBA acknowledges the realities of today's workplace, in which people with diverse responsibilities collaborate to solve issues and find innovative answers to dilemmas.

Each Weekend MBA class is composed of a diverse set of learners representing a variety of occupations, companies, and academic backgrounds. The average age of the incoming WMBA student is 33 years and their average work experience 9.6 years. 73% of the class is married.

The program calendar extends over 19 months, from August to March. The Weekend MBA is a comprehensive, 45-credit hour degree that consists primarily of short module courses. Classes occur every other Saturday, one Friday per month, and in two week-long residencies.

The Weekend MBA is a cohort-based program that begins each year in August. Students work together through a carefully sequenced program.

The Weekend MBA begins with a two day orientation at the Henry Center in East Lansing. Then in early August, students participate in a one-week residency at the Henry Center. This is an intense academic experience where students are truly immersed in the program. The second summer, students take a one-week residency on campus or participate in the international business seminar.

Cohorts are now available in two locations: East Lansing and Troy.

East Lansing cohorts meet in the James B. Henry Center for Executive Development, at the southwest area of MSU's campus. Troy cohorts meet in Troy at MSU's Management Education Center.

Tuition includes the accommodations during orientation and the residency weeks. The Henry Center can be a "home away from home" for Weekend MBA students who elect to come in on Friday nights, offering discounted suites with data ports, study areas, and full-kitchens.